French Restaurants

Bouchon of Yountville comes from the family of Thomas Keller Restaurants and strives to bring the French tradition of cozy, family owned bistros to the area. A dark, intimate interior starts diners off on their quest for traditional French cuisine as they are given a menu that consists of classic dishes. A list of Fruits de Mer, Caviar, and other Hors D’Oeuvres guide guests through a beginning course, leading up to the stars of the meal: Les Plats Principaux. This section of the menu features the French bistro classic, Steak Frites, as well as traditional entrees like Croque Madame and …

Renowned Chef Michael Mina’s RN74, is a restaurant where wine plays the starring role. Named for the highway that passes through Burgundy, RN74 boasts a 69 page, 2,000 plus wine list expertly paired with clean and elegant food. The restaurant team and Wine Director Rajat Parr work in conjunction to design a truly intelligent and sophisticated dining experience. The restaurant’s 75-seat dining room, 38-seat lounge and 16-seat hydraulic communal table have been meticulously designed using an old European train station as the inspiration. This more casual Michael Mina restaurant seeks to highlight a simple approach to French cuisine by coupling …

Since its opening in 1994, Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry has brought a small piece of the French country side to Northern California. The French Laundry’s philosophy is to have guests experience an emotional journey as they dine. The staff strives to leave the guest’s palate at the very height of pleasure and curiosity wherein patrons are surprised and riveted by the culinary experience and creativity with which they are presented. It is for this reason that Thomas Keller’s team crafts 2 new menus daily: a chef’s tasting menu and a vegetable tasting one. Each is a pre fixe menu …

A quaint, red storefront welcomes guests into the cozy space that is L’Ardoise Bistro. This restaurant takes its name from the French word meaning “chalkboard,” so it is only natural that one of the key features of this restaurant is a large chalkboard upon which the nightly specials are written. Diners can opt to sit in the general dining area amidst dark wood tables or up at the bar. This bar houses a vast selection of wines, which servers gladly recommend to their diners. The menu includes many traditional French dishes such as the Charcuterie Plate and the Cheese Selection …

Gourmet French cuisine can often come with many rules of decorum that don't always make for a straightforward dining experience. At Isa in the Marina district, diners can experience a variety of expertly prepared Cal French dishes that are as simple and to the point as the restaurant itself. Founded by prodigious Chef Luke Sung, Isa displays the cook's knowledge of traditional French cuisine by utilizing fresh and simple ingredients to create meals that don't struggle to impress. Whether it is seafood, poultry, vegetables, or even broth, Isa creates culinary masterpieces that will tantalize the taste buds without incorporating outlandish …

Chevalier is named after its owner and chef, who was born, raised, and trained in France. The French influence is evident in every dish that finds its way from the kitchen to your table. A three-course prix fixe menu gives diners the option of trying their choice of appetizer, entrée, and dessert from a select list, while the a la carte menu offers a little more wiggle room. Specials are available nightly in addition to the varied list of Plat Principaux, which includes selections such as classic Boeuf Bourguignon and Magret de Canette a l’Orange, a roasted young duck hen …

A Financial District lunchtime favorite, Chez Fayala has a wide breadth of options for those in search of a mid-day bite to eat. The menu includes an ample number of options to please nearly any palate. There are nearly a dozen sandwiches on offer, all of which are served with the choice of either organic mixed greens or Caesar salad. If you crave something on the lighter side, there are seven entrée salads to choose from, as well as a pay-by-the-pound salad bar. Also featured are daily specials, providing a fresh variety of dishes from Chicken Linguine with Hazelnut Pesto …

La Boulange is a recreation of Authentic French-styled bakeries located all around San Francisco. By taking the French traditions of their mother bakery on Pine Street and mixing that by offering a location that serves brunch and lunch, La Boulange creates a authentic, warm and welcoming environment that guests can get lost in their whimsical French atmosphere. The chefs at each location delicious sandwiches, burgers, salads, and brunch options offered throughout the day. In addition to their already vast selctions, La Boulange monthly dishes and sweets that utilizes seasonal ingredients in and around the San Francisco area.

In a world that is constantly changing, Café Des Amis prides themselves in offering a timeless Parisian setting in SF. Their establishment transports guest to back to old Paris to its “Café Des Amis” painted sign above their restaurant from its sophisticated dishes that reflect the tastes and flavors of the local neighborhood mixed with French cuisine. For large parties, Café Des Amis offers a Private Dining Room. French inspired, Café Des Amis Private Room transports large parties to a time of lavish meals and sensual cocktails. Up to 40 to 50 guests, their Private Room surrounds large parties in …

La Boulange is a recreation of Authentic French-styled bakeries located all around San Francisco. By taking the French traditions of their mother bakery on Pine Street and mixing that by offering a location that serves brunch and lunch, La Boulange creates a authentic, warm and welcoming environment that guests can get lost in their whimsical French atmosphere. The chefs at each location delicious sandwiches, burgers, salads, and brunch options offered throughout the day. In addition to their already vast selctions, La Boulange monthly dishes and sweets that utilizes seasonal ingredients in and around the San Francisco area.

La Boulange is a recreation of Authentic French-styled bakeries located all around San Francisco. By taking the French traditions of their mother bakery on Pine Street and mixing that by offering a location that serves brunch and lunch, La Boulange creates a authentic, warm and welcoming environment that guests can get lost in their whimsical French atmosphere. The chefs at each location delicious sandwiches, burgers, salads, and brunch options offered throughout the day. In addition to their already vast selctions, La Boulange monthly dishes and sweets that utilizes seasonal ingredients in and around the San Francisco area.

Fleur de Sel is a delicatessen that focuses on providing customers with natural, organic gourmet breakfast and well prepared meals. To go along with their organic and natural philosophy, Fleur de Sel supports local farmers, sustainable agriculture, and fair trade market products. Fleur de Sel ethos attracts all the natural foodies not only because of their stances on sustainable agricultural, but their food also attracts them to come back for more.

If you’re looking for a romantic setting that serves delicious French cuisine, head over to Baker Street Bistro. Open since 1991 and named after the streets it’s located on, Baker Street Bistro offers exquisite French cuisine in a lovely setting. Its outside is decorated with hanging lights to intensify the romantic setting and its stone wall outer foundation transports guest to France with its authenticity. Just as their establishment mimics that of a bistro from France, their entrees are comparable to those in France as well. Chef Danel cooks up world class dishes like Moules Provencale and Pain Perdu: Baker …

Located in Cow Hollow, The Matterhorn Swiss Restaurant brings the best of Switzerland right in their establishment. Matterhorn Swiss serves a beautifully crafted menu that features Fondue and an extensive wine selection for wine lovers to enjoy. Their interior is designed with handcrafted wood panel décor that is elegant yet cozy that transports you to a large log cabin in the Swiss Alps. With impeccable service, The Matterhorn Swiss Restaurant is a great eatery that people will have fun and enjoy Swiss cuisine.

While on vacation in the United States, Laurent Legendre visited the great city of San Francisco and feel in love with the city. So in July of 2007, Lengendre opened his own restaurant in Glen Park and named it Le P’tit Laurent. Serving exquisite French cuisine, Le P’tit Laurent rustic style décor and French artwork easily transport guests to the side streets of Paris, France. In addition, their entrees are a twist of classic country style French cuisine and head chefs Julio Caceres own culinary ethos. His impressive entrees are fresh and daring that attracts guest and the regulars to …

Chambers Eat + Drink is a restaurant and lounge inside San Francisco’s iconic rock n’ roll hotel, the Phoenix, and provides a menu, décor, and ambiance that is both chic and full of substance. Executive Chef Trevor Ogden—formerly from Mission Beach Café and Umami—has constructed a menu that is laden with seasonal entrees derived from California with influences from Japan, the Mediterranean and France. Examples are the Sizzling Kobe Tri-Tip and the Lamb Saddle—English peas, Israeli couscous, baby white carrots, chard leeks, pea tendrils and lamb jus. The menu complements the aesthetics, providing scenery that is modern with two indoor …

In great works of art, every element placed on the canvas is intentional. At Le Papillon, located at Saratoga Avenue and Kiely Boulevard in San Jose, food and art go hand in hand. Le Papillon’s take on modern French cuisine includes fresh and colorful plates with a focus on local, organic, and sustainable ingredients. Each item is precisely arranged on the plate to create eye-catching, edible art. The chefs at Le Papillon preserve the integrity of their ingredients by creating food that stays true to every component. The Truffled Hamachi Tartar appetizer is a cylinder of fresh fish accented with …

With colorful flower boxes, large picture windows, and a sunny saffron-colored sign, La Folie exudes a charming Frenchness. Inside, a luminous dining room in warm hues and lush fabrics is an elegant canvas for the presentation of Executive Chef Roland Possat’s French and California-inspired creations. The prix-fixe menu whimsically explores the interplay between tradition and experimentation: classic French ingredients like foie gras, frog legs, and snails mingle with dishes featuring lobster vanilla sauce and oxtail stuffed calamari. While, as its name suggests, La Folie has a playful streak of madness, it is more the result of a masterful and supremely …

Heralded as one of the best French bistros in the city, Fringale satisfies the urge to eat with a menu that prizes freshness and flavor. Sophistication and satisfaction are lovingly married by Chef de Cuisine Tripp Mauldin, who melds traditional French flavors with a modern aesthetic. The Dungeness Crab Napoleon is delightfully simple and artistic: crab, avocado, and a tomato confit, are layered in a structured tower of vibrant contrasting colors. The Seafood Basquaise lies at the other end of the food spectrum with its rustic presentation and flavors – the dish is bathed in a spicy roasted red pepper …

No matter that Chouquet’s was not intended to be the next big thing; it took off just the same. Chef Laurent Guillaume’s ability to meld old and new flavors into delightful light dishes; the service staff’s attentive and unpretentious care; and the stylish dining space meant to compliment, not distract from, the food, all converged to give Chouquet’s the attention it deserves. Brunch is offered on the weekends in place of the weekday lunch menu, and dinner is served nightly – the Effigham Oysters are seductive mignonette mint and shallots; and the Rigatoni with truffles, chanterelles, and foie gras is …